Essential Piece™ 45-Hour Medical Interpreter Training Course
A fine-tuned bilingual medical interpreter training aimed at reducing healthcare costs and raising patient safety.
Culturesmart’s The Essential Piece™ courses prepare bilingual individuals to serve as medical interpreters. Our comprehensive curriculum uses realistic role-plays and lively discussion so interpreters develop the skills and knowledge base they need to deliver accurate, complete interpretation in health care settings.
- Active listening, chunking, note-taking
- Sight translation skills
- Consecutive interpreting skills
- Common interpreting errors
- Elements of communication, shadowing and reflection of emotion
- NCIHC Code of Ethics
- IMIA Standards of Practice
- Techniques for culture brokering
- Body systems
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
To qualify to attend this training program, participants are required to meet or exceed the following criteria:
- Demonstrated language proficiency in English and a language currently offered;
- High school diploma or GED. Two plus years of college or technical school preferred;
- Able to commit 5-10 hours per week for preparing and reviewing materials for classes as instructed by trainers;
- Able to take responsibility for their own learning;
- Current or previous work experience in health care settings ideal, but not required;
- Prior knowledge of medical terminology is helpful, but not required.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND SELECTED CONTENT
Here’s what CultureSmart’s 45-hour course, typically scheduled over nine weeks, covers:
Pre-Course Language Assessment and Placement
DAY 1: Foundation, Overview, and essential interpreting skills.
DAY 2: Quiz 1. Code of ethics, interpreting logistics. Review of cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
DAY 3: Language specific vocabulary review and role-play practice. General medical vocabulary and terms related to cardiovascular and pulmonology.
DAY 4: Quiz 2. Patient culture and interpreting. How patients’ beliefs influence their views of illness. Culture brokering. Review of muscular, skeletal and nervous systems.
DAY 5: Written midterm. Health care, health disparities and how interpreters may contribute to unequal treatment. Review of reproductive and urinary systems.
DAY 6: Language specific vocabulary review and role-play practice. Terms related to orthopedics, rheumatology and neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics and urology.
DAY 7: Quiz 3. Participant presentations. Special topics. Review of competencies of a language interpreter. Challenging interpreting situations. Review of digestive and endocrine systems.
DAY 8: Language specific vocabulary review and role-play practice. Terms related to gastroenterology and endocrinology and terms from other previously reviewed medical specialties.
DAY 9: Comprehensive final written and interpreting skills Assessments
PROGRAM LENGTH AND FORMAT
- 25 hours in plenary sessions conducted in English (all language groups together)
- 15 hours of language specific practice (practice sessions conducted in participants specific languages)
- 30+ hours of homework and group meetings to prepare materials and practice skills learned in classroom
- 5 hours of written examinations and interpreting skills assessments.
The course price varies by location and state; visit our training schedule for specific tuition rates. The price typically it includes:
- Registration and course fee
- Language proficiency assessment
- Comprehensive interpreting skills and knowledge examinations
- Training materials
- Occasional refreshments during the course
- Certificate of Proficiency (for those who qualify)
Certificates of proficiency will be provided to all participants attending at least 90% of the total course hours and successfully completing the midterm and final course examinations. Typically, 70% of course registrants obtain a certificate on first attempt.
CultureSmart only issues certificates to candidates who pass rigorous written and oral assessments covering skills and vocabulary. Our criteria mean so much that our certificate holders are eligible for 10 continuing education points from the American Translators Association.
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